Belt massage machine

ABSTRACT

A belt massage machine having a base and an integral upright monocoque constructed support. A belt drive is journaled in the support at the upper end portion thereof. A drive motor is mounted in the support and is positioned below the belt drive. Power transmitting means interconnect the motor and belt drive.

United States Patent 1 Cosper [54] BELT MASSAGE MACHINE [75] Inventor: Dale C. Cosper, South Bend, 1nd.

[731 Assignee: Research Corporation, New York,

[22] Filed: Sept. 28, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 75,872

[52] US. Cl ..l28/63 [51] Int. Cl. ..A6lh 7/00 [58] Field. of Search ..128l24.1, 24.2, 63, 58

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,713,499 5/1929 Daley ..128/63 1 Jan.2, 1973 1,926,844 9/1933 Folberth et al. l 28/63 1,845,298 2/1932 Lee ..128/63 1,760,578 5/1930 Blomquist ..128/63 Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney-Oltsch & Knoblock [57] ABSTRACT A belt massage machine having a base and an integral upright monocoque constructed support. A belt drive is journaled in the support at the upper end portion thereof. A drive motor is mounted in the support and is positioned below the belt drive. Power transmitting means interconnect the motor and belt drive. i

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDm' 2 ms 3.707.962

sum 1 or a INVENTOR. DALE L. COSPEQ GBM & W

ATTORNEYS PATENTED 2575 3.707.962

sum 3 or 3 INVENTOR.

DALE L. COS/ ER (9M new A TTO/rW/SYS BELT MASSAGE MACHINE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION which are adapted to interlock with the free ends of the exercise belt as it extends round the body of the exerciser user while he stands upon the base of the device. A drive motor is mounted in the support below the belt drive and adjacent the base. Power transmitting means interconnecting the motor and belt drive is provided. Upon activation of the motor, the belt drive imparts a vibratory action to the belt.

Unlike the prior art belt massage machines in which the drive motor for the belt drive is mounted at the same approximate level as the drive, the belt drive motor of this invention is positioned adjacent the base so as to lower the center of gravity of the machine and thus add stability to the machine. The upright support is preferably multi-sided and is of a monocoque construction so as to reduce the tendency of the support to twist during operation of the massage machine. A pair of wheels is mounted at the lower back margin of the massage machine so as to permit the machine to be tilted with the wheels bearing the weight of the machine and moved from one location to another with a minimum of effort.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a belt massage machine which has a high degree of stability and which is of economic construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a belt message machine which can be moved from location to location with ease.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a reading of the invention 's description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of this invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the massage machine.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the message machine with a side wall portion of the machine broken away for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the massage machine as seen from line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with a back wall portion of the machine broken away for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the drive motor and speed adjustment means for the machine as seen from line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The preferred embodiment illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

The exerciser so illustrated includes a base 10 and an upright support 12 which is integrally connected to the rear edge portion of base 10. Base 10 and support 12 are preferably of a thin wall construction, such as molded fiberglass, with base 10 having suitable transverse ribs or stiffeners 14 formed therein which lend rigidity to the base. Support 12 is preferably of a foursided construction and includes a front wall 16-, side walls 18, a back wall 20, a top wall 22 and a bottom wall 24 which is shared with base 10. The platform 26 of base 10 joins front wall 16 of support 12 at the rear edge portion of the base. Support 12 includes an in tegral inclined inner wall 28 which is positioned at the lower end portion 29 of support 12 and which extends from the junction of back wall 20 and bottom wall 24 thereof upwardly to front wall 16 of the support adjacent its junction with platform 26 of the base. Additionally inner wall 28 extends from one side wall to the other side wall 18 of support 12. Spaced inwardly of each support side wall 18 is a panel 30. Each panel 30 parallels its adjacent side wall 18 and extends from top wall 22 to inner wall 28 of the support. The forward edge portion 32 of each panel 30 is joined to the inner surface of support front wall 16 with the rear edge portion 34 of each such panel consisting of a right angular flange which is joined to the adjacent side wall 18 at its end edge 36. Each panel 30 in conjunction with its connected side wall 18 and front wall 16 forms a torquebox which adds rigidity to the support.

A shaft 38 extends through the upper end portion 31 of support 12 and is journaled in suitable bushings 42 located in support side walls 18. Each bushing 42 is preferably fitted into a vibration-absorbing rubber sleeve 44 which is in turn fitted into a spacer block 46 fixedly located between each side wall 18 and its panel 30. Each end portion 40 of shaft 38 projects from its supporting side wall 18 and has a wheel 48 secured thereto by means of a lock pin 50. Each wheel 48 carries an eccentrically mounted projection 52. Projections 52 are preferably diametrically positioned relative to the axis of shaft 38. A pulley 54 is carried by shaft 38. Pulley 54 is located between support panels 30 and is secured to shaft 38 by means of a pin 56. Projections 52 of wheels 48 are adapted to interlock with the free ends of an exercise belt 53 and in conjunction with shaft 38 constitute the machine belt drive which is of standard construction in the belt massage art.

An electric drive motor 58 is disposed within support 12 and is positioned adjacently above inner wall 28 of the support. Motor 58 has its mounting plate 60 pivotally connected by suitable hinge means 62, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, to inner wall 28 of the support and is shiftable about a horizontal axis. Secured to the drive shaft 64 of motor 58 is a variable speed pulley 66. Pulley 66 is of a standard construction having inwardly biased, axially separable pulley halves by which the drive diameter of the pulley may be varied. An

endless drive belt 68 is trained about pulley 54 and pulley 66. Motor 58 is preferably of the constant speed type with the speed of rotation of shaft 38 being adjustable to accommodate the desires of the machine user by selectively pivoting the motor I about hinge means 62 to vary the distance between belt drive shaft 38 and motor shaft 64. Drive belt 68 is of a fixed length so that a variation in distance between shafts 38 and 64 causes a resulting variation in the spacing between the halves of variable speed pulley 66 which in turn causes a variation in the driving diameter of the pulley.

Pivotal movement of motor 58 about hinge means 62 may be effected by means of a control rod 70 which is located within support 12 and positioned longitudinally therein. The lower end portion 71 of control rod 70 is pivotally connected to a plate 72 secured to the housing of drive motor 58. The pivot connection of control rod 70 to plate 72 is horizontally offset from the pivot axis of the drive motor so that vertical movement of the control rod will cause pivotal movement of the motor. An internally threaded sleeve 74 forms a part of the upper end portion of the control rod. A speed control knob 76 is carried by top wall 22 of support 12 and is interconnected to control rod 70. Speed control knob 76 includes a grip part 78 and a shank 80 which is pressed into grip part 78 and which projects through a bushing 82 carried by top wall 22 of the support. Bushing 82 is secured to top wall 22 by a nut 81. The end portion of knob shank 80 which projects into support 12 below bushing 82 is threaded and is turned into threaded sleeve 74 of control rod 70. Shank 80 carries a retainer pin 84 which prevents the knob from being pulled out of bushing 82. As knob 76 is turned, threaded sleeve 74 shifts longitudinally along shank 80 of the knob to cause a shifting of rod 70 and the resulting pivotal movement of drive motor 58.

Plate 72 which is connected to drive motor 58 includes a plurality of apertures 86 which are each adapted to receive rod end portion 71 for securing the control rod to the motor. The user of the massage machine by selecting a particular aperture 86 for connecting rod 70 to motor 58 can set belt drive shaft 38 for a maximum speed setting. Pin 84 which extends transversely through shank 80 of knob 76 also acts as a stop means for restricting the upward movement of sleeve 74 and as such serves to limit the maximum speed of belt drive shaft 38 for a particular maximum speed setting of the machine.

A hand switch 88 is carried by top wall 22 of support 12. Additionally, a foot switch 90 is positioned in platform 26 of base 10. Both switches 88 and 90 are electrically connected to motor 58 and may be actuated by the user of the device so as to turn the motor on and off. In order to permit access into support 12, back wall of the support is constructed so as to be removable. A strip of anchor material 92, such as wood, extends along the rear edge portion 34 of each panel 30. Screws 94 are inserted through apertures in the side margins of back wall 20 and are turned into anchor material 92 so as to secure the back wall to the side walls 18 of the support. Back wall 20 of support 12 includes a projection 96 formed at its lower marginal edge. Projection 96 includes side parts 98. An axle member 100 extends through projection side parts 98. A wheel 102 is journaled to each exposed end portion of axle 100 and is positioned adjacent a side part 98. A wheel retainer washer 104 is fitted over the end portion of each axle and positioned adjacent the wheel 102 carried thereon. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, wheels 102 do not project beyond the lower surface of support bottom wall 24. The upper margin of back wall 20 includes a slot 104. Slot 104, in conjunction with apertures 106 in projection 96 at the lower margin of the'back wall serve as'ventilation means for drive motor 58. Additionally, slot 104 serves as a grip to permit the user of the massage machine to tilt the machine so that wheels 102 support the weight of the machine and allow the machine to be moved from one location to another in wheelbarrow fashion.

It is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the details herein given but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a belt massage machine, the combination comprising a'base and an integral upright support, a belt drive carried at the upper end portion of said support, a drive motor mounted within said support and carried below said belt drive adjacent said base, and power transmitting means interconnecting said motor and belt drive, said support including spaced side wallsffront and back walls, and a pair of inner strengthening panels, each panel being adjacently spaced from and paralleling a side wall and extending between said front and back walls to define in conjunction with said parallel side wall a torque resisting box.

2. In a belt massage machine, the combination comprising a base and an integral upright support, a belt drive carried at the upper end portion of said support, a drive motor mounted within said support and carried below said belt drive adjacent said base, and power transmitting means interconnecting said motor and belt drive, said support including front and back walls interconnected by spaced side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall which forms a part of said base, said base extending forwardly of said front wall, an internal support wall extending between said side walls adjacent the bottom wall of said support, a panel member spacedly paralleling each side wall along the length thereof and extending from said back wall to said front wall.

3. In a belt massage machine, the combination comprising a base and an integral upright support, a belt drive carried at the upper end portion of said support, a drive motor mounted within said support and carried below said belt drive adjacent said base, and power transmitting means interconnecting said motor and belt drive, said support including spaced side walls and a top wall, said belt drive including a shaft journaled in said side walls, said belt drive shaftcarrying eccentrically mounted belt connectors at the ends thereof, a first pulley fixedly carried by said belt drive shaft, said motor carried at the lower end portion of said support and being pivotally connected to said support about a horizontal axis, said motor pivot axis being spaced from the axis of the drive shaft of said motor, a variable speed pulley mounted to said motor shaft, an endless belt of fixed length trained about said first pulley and variable speed pulley, a rod disposed within said support and having one end pivotally connected to said motor spaced from said motor pivot axis, means carried by said support top wall engaging the other end of said rod for causing movement of said rod and a shifting of said motor about its pivot axis whereby the distance between said belt drive shaft and said motor shaft is varied to effect a change in the drive diameter of the variable speed pulley.

4. In a belt massage machine, the combination comprising a base and an integral upright support, a belt drive carried at the upper end portion of said support, a drive motor mounted within said supportand carried below said belt drive adjacent said base, and power transmitting means interconnecting said motor and belt drive, said support including a back wall, wheel means mounted to the lower margin of said back wall, said wheel means adapted to contact the floor upon rearward tilting movement of said support and base so as to support the weight of said machine and facilitate its movement from one location to another.

5. The machine of claim 3 wherein said means for causing movement of said rod includes a knob having a grip part carried exteriorly of said support top wall and a threaded shank projecting below "said top wall, the other end of said rod including an internally threaded sleeve into which said knob shank is threaded, said knob being rotatable relative to said sleeve whereby said rod is shifted relative to said shank.

6, The machine of claim 3 wherein said motor includes a rod mounting plate having a plurality of apertures each spaced a different distance from the pivot axis of said motor, the one end of said rod being pivotally connected to said mounting plate at one of said apertures.

7. The machine of claim 4 wherein said back wall has a hand grip slot formed in its upper margin for facilitating tilting of said support and base and said movement of the machine. 

1. In a belt massage machine, the combination comprising a base and an integral upright support, a belt drive carried at the upper end portion of said support, a drive motor mounted within said support and carried below said belt drive adjacent said base, and power transmitting means interconnecting said motor and belt drive, said support including spaced side walls, front and back walls, and a pair of inner strengthening panels, each panel being adjacently spaced from and paralleling a side wall and extending between said front and back walls to define in conjunctioN with said parallel side wall a torque resisting box.
 2. In a belt massage machine, the combination comprising a base and an integral upright support, a belt drive carried at the upper end portion of said support, a drive motor mounted within said support and carried below said belt drive adjacent said base, and power transmitting means interconnecting said motor and belt drive, said support including front and back walls interconnected by spaced side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall which forms a part of said base, said base extending forwardly of said front wall, an internal support wall extending between said side walls adjacent the bottom wall of said support, a panel member spacedly paralleling each side wall along the length thereof and extending from said back wall to said front wall.
 3. In a belt massage machine, the combination comprising a base and an integral upright support, a belt drive carried at the upper end portion of said support, a drive motor mounted within said support and carried below said belt drive adjacent said base, and power transmitting means interconnecting said motor and belt drive, said support including spaced side walls and a top wall, said belt drive including a shaft journaled in said side walls, said belt drive shaft carrying eccentrically mounted belt connectors at the ends thereof, a first pulley fixedly carried by said belt drive shaft, said motor carried at the lower end portion of said support and being pivotally connected to said support about a horizontal axis, said motor pivot axis being spaced from the axis of the drive shaft of said motor, a variable speed pulley mounted to said motor shaft, an endless belt of fixed length trained about said first pulley and variable speed pulley, a rod disposed within said support and having one end pivotally connected to said motor spaced from said motor pivot axis, means carried by said support top wall engaging the other end of said rod for causing movement of said rod and a shifting of said motor about its pivot axis whereby the distance between said belt drive shaft and said motor shaft is varied to effect a change in the drive diameter of the variable speed pulley.
 4. In a belt massage machine, the combination comprising a base and an integral upright support, a belt drive carried at the upper end portion of said support, a drive motor mounted within said support and carried below said belt drive adjacent said base, and power transmitting means interconnecting said motor and belt drive, said support including a back wall, wheel means mounted to the lower margin of said back wall, said wheel means adapted to contact the floor upon rearward tilting movement of said support and base so as to support the weight of said machine and facilitate its movement from one location to another.
 5. The machine of claim 3 wherein said means for causing movement of said rod includes a knob having a grip part carried exteriorly of said support top wall and a threaded shank projecting below said top wall, the other end of said rod including an internally threaded sleeve into which said knob shank is threaded, said knob being rotatable relative to said sleeve whereby said rod is shifted relative to said shank.
 6. The machine of claim 3 wherein said motor includes a rod mounting plate having a plurality of apertures each spaced a different distance from the pivot axis of said motor, the one end of said rod being pivotally connected to said mounting plate at one of said apertures.
 7. The machine of claim 4 wherein said back wall has a hand grip slot formed in its upper margin for facilitating tilting of said support and base and said movement of the machine. 